Telecine with a Bolex 18-5L

[Konton]

I've been working on trying to convert a Bolex 18-5L to transfer frames of Super 8 film for about 6 years. I choose the Bolex because I loved the retro metal body and wanted to keep both form and function in the project. It's not been a priority as I started the project the day before my son was born. Anyway things happen, technology progresses, and additional solutions present themselves.




The current plan is to capture frames and control the motor using a Raspberry Pi. This way I can capture a frame, then have a command to go to the next frame and repeat. It seems pretty easy, if I just new how to code in python.



Capturing the frames is actually the easy part. And in order to make it easier I pretty much gutted the projector. The light for the project is actually on a system to easy move around x-axis and y-axis.



I ripped the light out and 3D printed a mount to place a Raspberry Pi camera module. Where the lens of the projector would be I have some translucent acrylic to let whatever light I choose brighten the frame.



The new Raspberry Pi camera module v2.1 has a great lens that's adjustable for macro work. That is after you remove the glue.



I was going to keep the regular motor and try to capture at 5fps or 18fps. But considering how long it takes for a high rez image to get saved, it seemed like making it slow would be easier.



So I took a spare Nema 17 motor lying around and used a 1/4" coupler to attach it to the shaft where the fan used to be.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk_3hAGF0nE[/youtube]

I've been able to test motion. But now I have to get this all wired together with a stepper motor controller hat. I tried one and accidentally burned it out. Oh well. Maybe I'll get this done another year. Anyway, hope you enjoyed my weekend tinkering.

[dadu007]

Sounds like a great project! I've just started a similar one: Planning to use a Eumig Mark 8 with a Raspberry Pi (B+) with v2 camera. Have you seen this guy's project and python code for Raspberry Pi?

https://github.com/jas8mm/rpitelecine

[dadu007]

Sorry forgot the URL: https://github.com/jas8mm/rpitelecine

[Konton]

Yes. I am a huge fan of that project! But for this project I wanted a self-enclosed metal projector that basically does what it was meant to do. Move film through a gate.

Anyway I 3D printed a bunch of parts, and broke a bunch of stuff in the process during the week. This was the result of my first test tonight:

https://youtu.be/RIlQAkI6Tnc

Why can't I post videos here? Anyway that was just testing 5 frames and a 2 second delay in between. The python code is:

from rrb3 import *
import picamera
camera = picamera.PiCamera()
import time
rr = RRB3(12.0,12.0)
camera.vflip = True
camera.start_preview()
camera.capture('image1.jpg')
time.sleep(2)
rr.step_forward(0.002,50)
camera.capture('image2.jpg')
time.sleep(2)
rr.step_forward(0.002,50)
camera.capture('image3.jpg')
time.sleep(2)
rr.step_forward(0.002,50)
camera.capture('image4.jpg')
time.sleep(2)
rr.step_forward(0.002,50)
camera.stop_preview()
GPIO.cleanup()

Now if I can just make an easier way to setup and focus the camera I'd be in business!

[dadu007]

Is the Pi taking pics of the emulsion side of the film?